CANADA NOT INTERESTED IN CONSENSUS SLATE FOR

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001119 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC OTRA XG CA UNESCO SUBJECT: CANADA NOT INTERESTED IN CONSENSUS SLATE FOR UNESCO BOARD REF: STATE 93655 (U) We delivered reftel talking points on April 11 to Ross Snyder, Deputy Director for U.N. Specialized Agencies in DFAIT's International Organizations Bureau, on April 11. In a follow-up discussion April 17, Snyder told poloff that, in Canada's view, it will be very difficult at this point for the Group 1 countries to come up with a consensus slate of candidates for the Board, as countries which have announced their candidacies are unlikely to step aside. Snyder said that Canada intends to pursue its own Board candidacy and is not interested in pursuing a consensus slate, unless a formalized rotation of board membership can be worked out among the Group 1 countries. CELLUCCI